Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1462. What is this we're seeing? (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Th- That‘s…!”
Those who had been holding their breath, unable to bring themselves to poke their heads out despite the commotion outside.
Those who had no choice but to accept and endure the world that had changed overnight from the sky of Righteous Sects to the sky of Evil Sects, all looked in one direction.
In the sky that was so blue that it was almost indifferent, red plum blossoms are in full bloom. Large enough for everyone in Chengdu to see clearly.
Had this been just a few years ago, it would have been a sight met only with awe. But now, everyone in Chengdu knew. No, the entire world knew.
What the red plum blossoms symbolize, and who those are that make such plum blossoms bloom.
“Mo- Mount Hua!”
“Mount Hua Sect...!”
And at that moment, the plum blossoms that had bloomed in the sky scattered and rained down toward the ground of Chengdu.
Kwang! Kwaaaaang!
Explosive sounds like celebratory fireworks spread far and wide. For a brief moment, a swelling hope filled the eyes of Chengdu’s citizens.
But that hope was quickly crushed beneath the immense weight of reality.
They too knew. That Chengdu was already land occupied by Evil Tyrant Alliance, and that the past could not be so easily reclaimed. That if Mount Hua and Heavenly Comrade Alliance had the power to easily defeat Evil Tyrant Alliance, this place would never have fallen into Evil Tyrant Alliance's hands in the first place.
Still, the meaning of this sight was profound.
“I- I have to go see!”
“Hey, you punk! Where are you going! Just because Mount Hua has come, what could possibly change? You'll only lose your head for nothing!"
"But I must see it with my own eyes!"
Brushing off those trying to stop him, one man forcefully flung the door open. And then, at last, the figure of a man descending from the sky came into view.
“Ah....”
Clad in black martial attire, his long hair tied tightly high in the back. With a green hair ribbon and a plum blossom emblem engraved on his chest.
The man who had opened the door stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly before muttering as if in pain.
“Mount Hua Chivalrous... Sword.”
Thud!
Chung Myung landed on the ground. At the same time, he slowly looked around.
Only a brief moment had passed from when he had leapt into the air to bloom the plum blossom and landed again. But the surrounding scene had changed considerably in the meantime.
Those who had been suppressing their curiosity, hiding indoors in fear of Evil Tyrant Alliance and Myriad Man Manor, had now begun to peek out.
Through door cracks, or over high walls. Even if they couldn't bring themselves to show their bodies, their gazes were clearly directed at Chung Myung.
Countless emotions poured out from those eyes.
Chung Myung knows. Though occasionally there were looks of gratitude or admiration, most were staring at him with resentment. That the majority were reproaching Chung Myung for failing to fulfill his duty.
But Chung Myung did not avoid them. He instead opened his mouth resolutely. No, he tried to. If someone had not blocked his way and stopped him from speaking.
“...Tang Gaju?”
"Due to circumstances, we cannot take everyone with us now."
As Tang Gun-ak stepped forward, the expressions in the people’s eyes subtly shifted.
“But, in my name.... No, in the name of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. We will definitely return. At that time, we will apologize for our mistakes. So!"
Tang Gun-ak clenched his fist tightly.
"Please endure and hold on just a little longer."
He bowed his head. It was an odd sight in the middle of Chengdu where a battle had just taken place.
Yet a brief stillness settled over Chengdu.
“Tang Gaju. I....”
Just as Chung Myung tried to step forward, Maeng So, who had appeared unnoticed, grabbed his shoulder and held him back.
“Wait.”
The strength in Maeng So’s grip was substantial. He was genuinely stopping Chung Myung.
At that moment, Tang Gun-ak straightened his back and stared ahead. After imprinting the sight of Chengdu in his mind one last time, he bit his lip briefly. It was the moment right before he was about to give the order to move out.
"Let me go!"
Thud!
One of the closed doors opened roughly and a man rushed out from inside.
“I told you, you can’t!”
"Damn it! What do you mean I can’t!”
The man who had kicked the door open rushed straight toward Tang Gun-ak in one breath. Everyone's expression stiffened in an instant. It was because the momentum of the one running toward them was extraordinary.
Of course, there was no way Tang Gun-ak would be harmed by an ordinary commoner. But if they were to receive resentment about this situation in front of so many, wasn't it obvious how he would feel?
“Tang Gaju.”
Just as a flustered Maeng So tried to intervene, Tang Gun-ak raised his hand slightly without even turning his head. It meant not to interfere.
"Huff!"
The man looked at Tang Gun-ak with slightly bloodshot eyes. Tang Gun-ak met the man’s eyes with calm eyes.
"The situation has come to this..."
Tang Gun-ak spoke with a mix of embarrassment and regret. But before he could even finish, the man pulled something out from within his robes and abruptly held it out.
A jade Buddha statue. Even at a glance, it was clear it was a rare and valuable object.
Though Tang Gun-ak was superior to anyone in maintaining composure, even he was flustered at this moment. Why was he suddenly presenting a jade Buddha statue?
“This is....”
"Please take it."
The man shook the Buddha statue urgently, as if in a hurry, urging Tang Gun-ak.
“Sell it off! Use it for military funds or whatever else!”
“F- Father! That’s our family heirloom!”
At the voice from behind, the man whipped around and snapped.
“You idiot! What good is a family heirloom? Won't those Evil Sects bastards steal it all in just two weeks? If it's going to be stolen anyway, wouldn't it be better for these yangban to use it!"
"B- But..."
The man who had silenced his son looked straight at Tang Gun-ak again.
"It's our family's heirloom. Please take it and use it. But!"
There was earnestness in the man's blazing eyes.
“Please come back. We will make it through somehow.”
Tang Gun-ak's lips trembled faintly for a moment.
Even when his family ground was burned, even when countless family members lost their lives, he had never shown a collapsed appearance in front of people. But now, that composed expression was visibly shaken.
He spoke in a slightly strained voice.
"...I cannot accept it. It might bring trouble, so please return quickly."
“....”
“Someone will tell.”
It was a warning that someone who witnessed this scene might report it to the Sapaeryeon. But the man frowned as if asking what he was talking about.
"Are you not the patriarch?"
A puzzled expression crossed Tang Gun-ak's face.
"Does the patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family know so little about Chengdu?"
“...What....”
There was no need for the man to explain. The meaning became clear soon enough.
“Step aside!”
Another door swung open, and an old man came rushing out.
“Gaju-nim! Here! This is the most precious thing in our family. Please take it!”
“....”
"Here, you must accept this too! And you must come back. We’ll endure, no matter what!"
The tightly closed doors opened one by one.
Those who had been hiding behind doors and behind walls came running out on their own feet. What shattered the reality holding them back wasn’t the power of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. It was the will of the people who live in Chengdu.
"Gaju-nim, here it is! Please!"
Someone grasped Tang Gun-ak's hand and shed tears. Another, as if afraid of being seen, set down what they brought and turned away in haste. Some, too afraid to step outside, threw their offerings over the wall.
Their methods were different, but their message was the same.
Tang Gun-ak bit his lip tightly as he looked at the valuables piling up in front of him. They were all precious valuables. The smallest and most precious things had gathered abundantly so that the few of them could carry them.
He had failed in his duty. So even if spit and insults came his way, he was prepared to endure it.
The reason the Sichuan Tang Family could be the ruler of Chengdu for so long was that those settled here recognized and supported the Sichuan Tang Family.
But he had failed to protect them. And even now, he had no choice but to leave behind only words asking them to endure.
Yet they do not curse Tang Gun-ak. They did not abandon him. They only showed him their earnest sincerity.
“You must come back, Gaju-nim!”
"We will only wait for the day Tang Family returns!"
“We’ll endure it somehow. So stay strong!”
Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth as if to say something, but eventually stopped again. He couldn't bring himself to say anything.
"Sahyung!"
“Already brought it! Carts, right?"
"Load them up, quickly!"
"Yes!"
Five Swords released the cart they had been pulling and rushed over eagerly to load the piled treasures onto a new cart.
"N- No, you can't load it like that! If the goods get damaged... Agh! Move aside!"
The people of Sahae Merchant Guild hurried down from where they had been riding, pushed aside Five Swords, and quickly loaded the goods with practiced hands.
“What are you doing! Load them up!”
“M- Me too?”
"Of course? Don't you have hands, Gungju-nim?"
"I- I'm going now."
Maeng So groaned as he began loading armfuls of treasure with his pot-lid-sized hands.
It was ridiculous in a way. But no one laughed. The towering pile of goods was quickly sorted and loaded onto the cart.
A loud voice was heard from somewhere.
“Gaju-nim! You must come back!”
"Take care!"
"Please don't forget us, Gaju-nim!"
Tang Gun-ak engraved every face peeking through the small gap into his memory. Tang Gun-ak, who had been standing silently like that, finally turned to look at Chung Myung. A slightly choked voice leaked out.
“General.”
"Yeah!"
Chung Myung stepped forward and shouted loudly.
"We'll definitely come back, so please wait just a little longer!"
No thunderous cheers burst forth. But for now, that was enough.
"Let's go!"
With Chung Myung's shout, several carts raced down the main street all at once. Those who had been finishing off the remnants of the crushed Evil Sects in the rear quickly rushed in to join them.
“Gaju-nim, let me...!”
"It's fine."
Tang Gun-ak, pulling the cart himself, stopped Hye Yeon who was running toward him. This cart, at least, he had to pull himself. Even if he was the patriarch of Tang Family...
No, because he was the patriarch of Tang Family.
The carts raced ahead and soon reached the towering gates of Chengdu. Everyone's gazes turned back as if by promise.
As if vowing never to forget those countless gazes pouring down on them, they confirmed it with their eyes, then turned forward again.
"Let’s go."
The carts left the city gates and raced outside.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
"It's alright."
Chung Myung nodded as if he understood Baek Cheon's feelings.
"No words matter now. We’ll prove it through action, not talk."
"...Yes. You're right."
Baek Cheon's gaze turned to Chengdu again. He pondered the firm gate for a moment, as if engraving it into his mind. Only one determination remained firmly in his mind.
'We will definitely return.'
And by that time, Heavenly Comrade Alliance would surely no longer be the same as it had been until now.
|Note
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 144 Chapters
Advance chapters of Got a Gallery in the Wild : 10
Comments Box